The Body Shop India and WTI Launch Health Care And Sanitation with Rewilding the Garo Spine

The absence of access to good healthcare
and sanitation facilities in the remote villages of Garo Hills, has been a
concern for years now. As a result, there have been instances of serious health
issues in the area. Few of the healthcare centres in the area were also
primarily not well equipped. After equipping Siju and Baghmara (in South Garo
Hills) health centres with modern healthcare equipment, in last year, Wildlife
Trust of India and The Body Shop India have further extended their support to
upgrade the Asanang Health Centre (in
West Garo Hills) by construction of public sanitation facilities as a way of
recognizing the efforts of the Garo Community who have been at the forefront of
conservation in the region. The Inaugural Ceremony of the facility was
organized at Asanang Public Health Centre in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya on 26th February 2019.Dignitaries included
representatives from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Health
Department, The Body Shop India, Wildlife Trust of India and local Garo
community members.

Chief Guest at the programme, Ms Shelly C.H. Momin, M.C.S. Block
Development Officer, Rongram, C&RD Block, West Garo Hills said, “I am
happy to see this beautiful convergence of Government, NGO and Corporate coming
together for a noble initiative to provide support to the community of Garo
Hills”. Dr Marwin M. Sangma, District
Medical and Health Officer, West Garo Hills, said “We are thankful to WTI
and The Body Shop India to come forward with this support for the Public Health
Centre and we hope together we can make a difference for nature and
environment.”

Commenting on the initiative at the event, Ms. Shriti Malhotra, CEO, The Body Shop India said, “We carry forward our founder Anita Roddick’s legacy of giving back to society especially to the local environment and communities. In this area, unlike any other part of the country, the forest is owned by the communities and the onus of preserving it and using the resources well lies with the communities. We are pleased to inaugurate these facilities here today believing that uplifting health and sanitation will prove effective in providing good health to the locals as well as it will provide a platform for the doctors who are willing to come to these remote places to dedicate their service to the people. It also gives us immense pleasure to be associated with WTI for this project and they have indeed helped us bring this initiative to life.